Concert band looking for a new home base

Members of the Wallaceburg Concert Band are blindsided, as they will have to move out of their rehearsal space at Wallaceburg District Secondary School because they have been told the school wants to use the space. The concert band, which was formed a couple years ago, uses the former music room at WDSS for not only rehearsal, but also for storage and has office space. Along with leasing the space, the concert band also has an agreement with the school board to use some of their musical instruments. Wallaceburg Concert Band director David Babbitt said the decision has left the program “blindsided.” The music program at WDSS was disbanded after Babbitt retired from the school a few years ago. Babbitt headed up the music department for 30 years at WDSS. Things were looking up for the concert band, as they had a meeting with Chatham-Kent mayor Darrin Canniff earlier this year where the mayor proposed that instead of the concert band renting space from the Lambton Kent District School Board, perhaps there was an opportunity for the municipality to take over the space from the school board and lease it to the concert band so they have a permanent home and they don’t have to share it. That way the concert band wouldn’t have to spend a large amount of time every week setting up and taking down equipment every week for rehearsal. Babbitt said that it was a great idea that was led by the mayor’s office and he said it appeared that the school board was receptive as it could generate revenue for unused space in the school. It came as a surprise a few weeks ago as the school said that they wanted to go in a new direction and now has plans to re-purpose the room. Babbitt said the school board offered to move the concert band to the cafeteria and build them storage space at the school. “That just wouldn’t work,” Babbitt said. “That’s not a viable option for many reasons.” The Courier Press reached out to WDSS principal Melissa Mallette for comment but she didn’t return a call to comment on the plans for the former music room. Babbitt said the concert band is now looking at other options for a new home. Babbitt gave credit to the mayor and council members who have been assisting in helping to find a new home. “We had a few offers,” Babbitt said. The band has been offered to stay at the school until construction on the room begins, Babbitt said, but he doesn’t want to have scramble when the time comes when they have leave. “We can’t operate that way. We have to look for a place to go.” Overall, Babbitt, who still has strong ties to the school by volunteering during his retirement, said he was hurt that the school and board decided to re-purpose the music room instead of working with the municipality. “They are not community-minded,” Babbitt said.